Any problem with the plastic suspension parts on a SpecializedS-Works Tarmac road bike?
 

One of my sons, who is pretty big and strong,, rides an S-Works Tarmac CF frame (about a 2006 model or so) with the plastic (polymer??) bits in the forks and the chainstays. It seems to be in excellent condition. Have you ever heard of any problems with the plastic suspension bits disintegrating or breaking after a long time? Thanks!

Any problem with the plastic suspension parts on a SpecializedS-Works Tarmac road bike?
 

On Sunday, April 14, 2019 at 8:58:19 AM UTC-7, wrote:
One of my sons, who is pretty big and strong,, rides an S-Works Tarmac CF frame (about a 2006 model or so) with the plastic (polymer??) bits in the forks and the chainstays. It seems to be in excellent condition. Have you ever heard of any problems with the plastic suspension bits disintegrating or breaking after a long time? Thanks!

No and I always look at those on my riding partners bikes. I don't really thing that they do anything.

Any problem with the plastic suspension parts on a SpecializedS-Works Tarmac road bike?
 

On 4/15/2019 5:42 PM, wrote:
On Sunday, April 14, 2019 at 8:58:19 AM UTC-7, wrote:
One of my sons, who is pretty big and strong,, rides an S-Works Tarmac CF frame (about a 2006 model or so) with the plastic (polymer??) bits in the forks and the chainstays. It seems to be in excellent condition. Have you ever heard of any problems with the plastic suspension bits disintegrating or breaking after a long time? Thanks!

No and I always look at those on my riding partners bikes. I don't really thing that they do anything.

I think in a lot of cases they're worked really well. They've made
people buy the bike! ;-)


--
- Frank Krygowski

Any problem with the plastic suspension parts on a SpecializedS-Works Tarmac road bike?
 

On Sunday, April 14, 2019 at 8:58:19 AM UTC-7, wrote:
One of my sons, who is pretty big and strong,, rides an S-Works Tarmac CF frame (about a 2006 model or so) with the plastic (polymer??) bits in the forks and the chainstays. It seems to be in excellent condition. Have you ever heard of any problems with the plastic suspension bits disintegrating or breaking after a long time? Thanks!

Zerts? I didn't think those were used on the Tarmac -- just the Roubaix, Ruby and Diverge. After 13 years, I would think the Zerts are inert. I couldn't imagine how they would fall out.

-- Jay Beattie.

Any problem with the plastic suspension parts on a SpecializedS-Works Tarmac road bike?
 

On 15/4/19 1:58 am, wrote:
One of my sons, who is pretty big and strong,, rides an S-Works
Tarmac CF frame (about a 2006 model or so) with the plastic
(polymer??) bits in the forks and the chainstays. It seems to be in
excellent condition. Have you ever heard of any problems with the
plastic suspension bits disintegrating or breaking after a long time?
Thanks!


Perhaps a better question is do the plastic suspension bits actually do
anything?

--
JS

Any problem with the plastic suspension parts on aSpecialized S-Works Tarmac road bike?
 

jbeattie wrote:
On Sunday, April 14, 2019 at 8:58:19 AM UTC-7, wrote:
One of my sons, who is pretty big and strong,, rides an S-Works Tarmac
CF frame (about a 2006 model or so) with the plastic (polymer??) bits in
the forks and the chainstays. It seems to be in excellent condition.
Have you ever heard of any problems with the plastic suspension bits
disintegrating or breaking after a long time? Thanks!

Zerts? I didn't think those were used on the Tarmac -- just the Roubaix,
Ruby and Diverge. After 13 years, I would think the Zerts are inert. I
couldn't imagine how they would fall out.

-- Jay Beattie.


My Tarmac Elite 2010 had them. My Tarmac Pro 2014 doesn’t. Both were
Specialized, no the S-Works models. I have a friend with a Roubaix and a
couple with Rubys. All have zertz inserts. Never heard of one falling out
or deteriorating.

Spec frames have lifetime warranty which would cover that but only for the
original owner.

--
duane

Any problem with the plastic suspension parts on aSpecialized S-Works Tarmac road bike?
 

James wrote:
On 15/4/19 1:58 am, wrote:
One of my sons, who is pretty big and strong,, rides an S-Works
Tarmac CF frame (about a 2006 model or so) with the plastic
(polymer??) bits in the forks and the chainstays. It seems to be in
excellent condition. Have you ever heard of any problems with the
plastic suspension bits disintegrating or breaking after a long time?
Thanks!


Perhaps a better question is do the plastic suspension bits actually do
anything?


Maybe but I didn’t notice much difference. I run 90 psi with my HED wheels
though. Maybe @ 120psi on rough roads?

--
duane

Any problem with the plastic suspension parts on a SpecializedS-Works Tarmac road bike?
 

On 4/16/2019 6:25 AM, Duane wrote:
James wrote:
On 15/4/19 1:58 am, wrote:
One of my sons, who is pretty big and strong,, rides an S-Works
Tarmac CF frame (about a 2006 model or so) with the plastic
(polymer??) bits in the forks and the chainstays. It seems to be in
excellent condition. Have you ever heard of any problems with the
plastic suspension bits disintegrating or breaking after a long time?
Thanks!


Perhaps a better question is do the plastic suspension bits actually do
anything?


Maybe but I didn’t notice much difference. I run 90 psi with my HED wheels
though. Maybe @ 120psi on rough roads?

I have a couple friends who have them. They noticed no difference at all.

I recall Specialized "scientific" propaganda being discussed here when
those first came out. Specialized mounted a frame on a vibrating table
and had graphs showing a moderate reduction in vibration, mostly at a
frequency of about 440 Hz.

440 Hz is a frequency sort of in the middle of the musical range. It's
an A note, the one symphony orchestras use to tune up.

If you've ever gone to a concert and your butt complained the A notes
were too loud, Zertz are for you.

--
- Frank Krygowski

Any problem with the plastic suspension parts on a SpecializedS-Works Tarmac road bike?
 

On Tuesday, April 16, 2019 at 6:06:57 AM UTC-7, Frank Krygowski wrote:
On 4/16/2019 6:25 AM, Duane wrote:
James wrote:
On 15/4/19 1:58 am, wrote:
One of my sons, who is pretty big and strong,, rides an S-Works
Tarmac CF frame (about a 2006 model or so) with the plastic
(polymer??) bits in the forks and the chainstays. It seems to be in
excellent condition. Have you ever heard of any problems with the
plastic suspension bits disintegrating or breaking after a long time?
Thanks!


Perhaps a better question is do the plastic suspension bits actually do
anything?


Maybe but I didn’t notice much difference. I run 90 psi with my HED wheels
though. Maybe @ 120psi on rough roads?

I have a couple friends who have them. They noticed no difference at all.

How would they? You would have to have a Zert and non-Zert frame for comparison. I had a Roubaix with Zerts and sold it to my son (after it was stolen and recovered), and I had no idea what affect, if any, they had on the ride versus the CF layup, geometry, tire profile and pressure, etc., etc. It seems to be holding up under my son -- no Zert failures. It's a good fast rain bike with fender mounts, although not a ton of tire clearance with fenders.

-- Jay Beattie.

Any problem with the plastic suspension parts on aSpecialized S-Works Tarmac road bike?
 

Frank Krygowski wrote:
On 4/16/2019 6:25 AM, Duane wrote:
James wrote:
On 15/4/19 1:58 am, wrote:
One of my sons, who is pretty big and strong,, rides an S-Works
Tarmac CF frame (about a 2006 model or so) with the plastic
(polymer??) bits in the forks and the chainstays. It seems to be in
excellent condition. Have you ever heard of any problems with the
plastic suspension bits disintegrating or breaking after a long time?
Thanks!


Perhaps a better question is do the plastic suspension bits actually do
anything?


Maybe but I didn’t notice much difference. I run 90 psi with my HED wheels
though. Maybe @ 120psi on rough roads?

I have a couple friends who have them. They noticed no difference at all.

I recall Specialized "scientific" propaganda being discussed here when
those first came out. Specialized mounted a frame on a vibrating table
and had graphs showing a moderate reduction in vibration, mostly at a
frequency of about 440 Hz.

440 Hz is a frequency sort of in the middle of the musical range. It's
an A note, the one symphony orchestras use to tune up.

If you've ever gone to a concert and your butt complained the A notes
were too loud, Zertz are for you.


I'm sure the weird kink in the frame that the Zertz were mounted in did
most of the flexing, and the rubber plug just filled the hole.

Any problem with the plastic suspension parts on a SpecializedS-Works Tarmac road bike?
 

On 4/16/2019 9:33 AM, jbeattie wrote:
On Tuesday, April 16, 2019 at 6:06:57 AM UTC-7, Frank Krygowski wrote:
On 4/16/2019 6:25 AM, Duane wrote:
James wrote:
On 15/4/19 1:58 am, wrote:
One of my sons, who is pretty big and strong,, rides an S-Works
Tarmac CF frame (about a 2006 model or so) with the plastic
(polymer??) bits in the forks and the chainstays. It seems to be in
excellent condition. Have you ever heard of any problems with the
plastic suspension bits disintegrating or breaking after a long time?
Thanks!


Perhaps a better question is do the plastic suspension bits actually do
anything?


Maybe but I didn’t notice much difference. I run 90 psi with my HED wheels
though. Maybe @ 120psi on rough roads?

I have a couple friends who have them. They noticed no difference at all.

How would they? You would have to have a Zert and non-Zert frame for comparison.

The person I talked to the most about it was comparing the bike with her
previous steel bike (which she still has and rides). She said she
couldn't feel any difference in ride comfort between the two bikes.

I know that some people seem to be real connoisseurs of ride quality.
Perhaps those people can feel that diminishing of 440 Hz vibrations.
Perhaps she's just not as sensitive.

I know I'm not. I've gotten complaints from other club members for
leading rides on rough roads and even on a little (gasp!) gravel. I rode
my old Cannondale, a touring bike famed for its rigidity.

--
- Frank Krygowski

Any problem with the plastic suspension parts on a SpecializedS-Works Tarmac road bike?
 

On Tuesday, April 16, 2019 at 10:58:27 AM UTC-7, Frank Krygowski wrote:
On 4/16/2019 9:33 AM, jbeattie wrote:
On Tuesday, April 16, 2019 at 6:06:57 AM UTC-7, Frank Krygowski wrote:
On 4/16/2019 6:25 AM, Duane wrote:
James wrote:
On 15/4/19 1:58 am, wrote:
One of my sons, who is pretty big and strong,, rides an S-Works
Tarmac CF frame (about a 2006 model or so) with the plastic
(polymer??) bits in the forks and the chainstays. It seems to be in
excellent condition. Have you ever heard of any problems with the
plastic suspension bits disintegrating or breaking after a long time?
Thanks!


Perhaps a better question is do the plastic suspension bits actually do
anything?


Maybe but I didn’t notice much difference. I run 90 psi with my HED wheels
though. Maybe @ 120psi on rough roads?

I have a couple friends who have them. They noticed no difference at all.

How would they? You would have to have a Zert and non-Zert frame for comparison.

The person I talked to the most about it was comparing the bike with her
previous steel bike (which she still has and rides). She said she
couldn't feel any difference in ride comfort between the two bikes.

I know that some people seem to be real connoisseurs of ride quality.
Perhaps those people can feel that diminishing of 440 Hz vibrations.
Perhaps she's just not as sensitive.

I know I'm not. I've gotten complaints from other club members for
leading rides on rough roads and even on a little (gasp!) gravel. I rode
my old Cannondale, a touring bike famed for its rigidity.

--
- Frank Krygowski

Many people wouldn't be able to feel the difference between the ride of my Basso Loto and my Pinarello Stelvio but it sticks out quite strikingly to me. My Time VX with the 28 mm tires on it is so superior to the steel bikes that even a novice would know the difference. The Colnago rides not quite as good as the Time but it is PERFECTLY balanced to my size. Last Saturday people were going around these corners that were so dangerous that they had assigned flagmen to them. I was going twice the speed of others in those corners without the slightest bother. Possibly part of that could have been the Continental GP5000's. The Vittoria Corsa G+'s corner with more confidence but I think that it would be easier and safer to change angles with the Continentals.